Powder case

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an improved powder case capable of efficiently dispensing contained powder. The powder case comprises a storage member  30  having a storage portion  31  for containing powder and a bellows portion  32  for enabling contraction/expansion of the storage portion  31;  and a puff  40  coupled to a first end of the storage member  30  and for absorbing powder therefrom and discharging the same to the outside. A covering cap  50  is coupled with the puff  40  when the powder case is not used to prevent leak of powder and to protect the puff  40  from moisture. The puff  40  is made of a porous material such as sponge to facilitate penetration of powder and to provide soft touch to the skin. The powder case can efficiently dispense powder under compressed air obtained through contraction/expansion of the bellows portion in order to facilitate the use thereof. Since the bellows portion is contracted while the puff is contacted against the skin, powder can be efficiently discharged in compressed air. This can greatly reduce scattering of powder, thereby preventing pollution of surroundings.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a powder case having a storage member for containing powder such as cosmetic powder or baby powder and a puff for applying powder discharged from the storage member. In particular, the storage member of the powder case is compressed and expanded in order to efficiently discharge powder.

[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Foundation used for make-up is generally classified as liquid foundation and powder foundation. As widely known, liquid foundation is light and soft like lotion and exhibits a high skin-covering activity, and in contrast, powder foundation is adequate for color make-up for those who have oily skins.

[0005] Since liquid foundation has properties of liquid, liquid foundation is generally stored in an elastic container so that a user can squeeze some of foundation out of the container at any time. In the case of powder foundation, which has a predetermined degree of viscosity, it is stored in an additional container or an additional storage case.

[0006] A brush or a sponge is most widely used for applying foundation to the skin, and is separately carried or stored in the storage case for foundation.

[0007] That is, a make-up tool used for powder foundation includes a foundation container for storing foundation powder and a brush or a puff used for applying foundation powder in the container to the face. Thus, the user constantly carries the foundation container and the brush or the puff in order to make up.

[0008] In case of using powder foundation to make up, the user taps or dips the brush or the puff against foundation powder so that the brush or the puff is covered with some of foundation powder. Then, some of foundation powder scatters around, soiling the surroundings as well as causing large loss to the foundation. In addition, the user always needs the foundation container together with the brush or the puff in order to make up with powder foundation. There is thus a problem that the user cannot make up if any of the foundation container and the brush or the puff is missing.

[0009] A cosmetic case for solving the above problem is disclosed in Korean Utility Model Registration Application No. 2001-26125, and a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in FIG. 1.

[0010] According to this application, a puff 10 is coupled to an upper opening of a case 20 so that a user can make up her face or correct her make-up with the puff 10.

[0011] A dispenser hole 11 is formed in a central portion of the puff 10, so that foundation powder can be readily dispensed out of a storage portion 24. A cover 12 is coupled with the puff 10, by which the user can clean the puff 10 when the puff is soiled resulting from long term application, or replace the soiled puff 10 by a new one.

[0012] In application of such a cosmetic powder case, however, powder collects concentrically in the dispenser hole 11. Thus, dispensing of powder may not be smooth and efficient make-up may be difficult.

[0013] Then, as the user taps the puff 10 on the skin in order to efficiently dispense powder, powder may scatter around, thereby soiling surroundings and potentially causing respiratory discomfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] The present invention has been made to solve the foregoing problems and therefore has the following objects:

[0015] The first object of the invention is to provide an improved powder case enabling powder to be smoothly dispensed via a puff from a container for storing powder.

[0016] The second object of the invention is to provide an improved powder case which can greatly reduce scattering of dispensed powder, thereby preventing pollution of surroundings.

[0017] According to an aspect of the invention for realizing the above objects, there is provided a powder case comprising: a storage member having a storage portion for containing powder and a bellows portion for enabling contraction/expansion of the storage portion; and a puff coupled to a first end of the storage member and for absorbing powder therefrom and discharging the same to the outside.

[0018] The powder case of the invention can further comprise a gripping member coupled to a second end of the storage member for guiding the bellows portion in a contraction/expansion direction of the bellows portion.

[0019] In the powder case of the invention, it is preferred that the second end of the storage member is open, and the powder case can further comprise: an extension tube extended from the gripping member for expanding the storage portion; and a closing cap coupled with the extension tube for opening/closing the storage portion.

[0020] In the powder case, the storage member has a hole in its bottom for compensating powder, and the powder case can further comprise a cap for opening/closing the compensation hole.

[0021] Preferably, the puff has a channel for guiding powder from the storage member and a protective film coupled over the surface of the puff.

[0022] According to another aspect of the invention for realizing the above objects, there is provided a powder case comprising: a puff; a fixing member having a receiving portion for seating the puff; and a storage member coupled with the fixing member, wherein the storage member includes: a storage portion for containing powder, an opened upward protrusion at a first end thereof for guiding foundation powder to the puff and a bellows portion in a middle portion of the storage member capable of contracting/expanding under external force in order to transport powder to the puff.

[0023] Due to the characteristics of the invention, the powder case of the invention can efficiently discharge/dispense powder under compressed air obtained through contraction/expansion of the bellows portion in order to facilitate the use thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025]FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a conventional powder case;

[0026]FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a powder case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0027]FIGS. 3A and 3B are sectional views of an alternative to the powder case shown in FIG. 2;

[0028]FIG. 4 is a sectional view of another alternative to the powder case shown in FIG. 2;

[0029]FIG. 5 is an exploded sectional view of a powder case according to a second embodiment of the invention;

[0030]FIG. 6 is an assembled sectional view of the powder case shown in FIG. 5;

[0031]FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the powder case shown in FIG. 5, in which a puff is exposed;

[0032]FIGS. 8A and 8B are sectional views illustrating the use of the powder case shown in FIG. 5; and

[0033]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a puff adopted in a powder case of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0034] The following detailed description will present preferred embodiments of the invention in reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0035] First Embodiment

[0036] A powder case according to a preferred embodiment of the invention contains baby powder or cosmetic powder. A puff is coupled to an outlet side of the powder case of the preferred embodiment, so that a user can conveniently use the puff to apply anti-eczema powder on the skin of a baby after a bath or to make up the skin.

[0037] Referring to FIG. 2, the powder case includes a storage portion 31 for containing powder, a storage member 30 having a bellows portion 32 enabling contraction and expansion of the storage portion 31 and a puff 40. The puff 40 is coupled to one end of the storage member 30 to absorb powder from the storage portion 31 and discharge absorbed powder to the outside. A covering cap 50 is coupled with the puff 40 in order to prevent leakage of powder and to protect the puff 40 from moisture when the powder case is unused.

[0038] The puff 40 is preferably made of a porous material such as sponge in order to facilitate penetration of powder into the puff 40 as well as to provide a soft touch to the skin. An annular coupling groove 41 is formed in a lower outer periphery of the puff 40. That is, the puff 40 can be coupled with an upper portion of the storage member 30 via the coupling groove 41. The storage member 30 also has a reinforcement band 35, which is made of a metal such as Al, in an upper outer periphery thereof.

[0039] The case also has a hole 33 for compensating powder and a stopper 34 for opening/closing the hole 33 at the bottom of the storage member 30.

[0040] In use, a user presses the puff 40 against the skin while holding the lower end of the storage member 30. Then, the bellows portion 32 is contracted to compress air within the same, so that the compressed air can efficiently discharge or dispense the powder through the puff 40.

[0041]FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an alternative to the powder case according to the first embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the powder case further includes a gripping member 61 coupled to a lateral portion of a storage member 30. The gripping member 61 guides a bellows portion 32 in a contraction/expansion direction thereof.

[0042] Since a user can guide movement of the bellows portion 32 with the gripping member 61, the user can stably expand/contract the bellows portion 32 while contacting the puff 40 to the skin. Also, the user can use the powder case more conveniently by holding the gripping member 61.

[0043]FIG. 4 illustrates another alternative to the powder case according to the first embodiment of the invention. In FIG. 4, a puff 40 is coupled to a first end of a storage member 30 which has an opened second end. The storage member 30 has a storage portion 31 which is expanded by an extension tube 62 extended from a gripping member 61. A closing cap 70 is coupled to the extension tube 62 to open/close the storage portion 31.

[0044] This construction enlarges the storage capacity of powder as well as allows a user to grip the closing cap 70, thereby facilitating the use of the powder case.

[0045] The gripping member 61 in any of those in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4 protects the bellows portion 32 from damages resulting from external impact. The extension tube 62 extended from the gripping member 61 also functions as a coupling portion with which a covering cap 50 is coupled.

[0046] In the first embodiment, as the user contacts the puff to the skin while repeatedly pressing and relaxing the storage member 30 to contract/expand the bellows portion 32, powder scatters inside the storage member 30 without lumping itself. Also compressed air causes powder to penetrate into the puff 40 and then discharge therefrom.

[0047] Further, the reinforcement band 35, which is made of a metal such as Al, is coupled to the upper outer periphery of the storage member 30 coupled with the puff to further reinforce the strength of the storage member 30 as well as to impart an aesthetic appearance to the storage member 30.

[0048] Second Embodiment

[0049]FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a powder case according to a second embodiment of the invention.

[0050] Referring to FIG. 5, a powder case 100 for internally storing foundation powder according to the second embodiment of the invention includes a puff 110 which is used to apply foundation powder on the skin such as facial skin. A coupling portion 112 is formed in a lower portion of the puff 110. The coupling portion 112 has a predetermined size of hole 112 a in its center, which serves to receive an upward protrusion 132 of a storage member 130, which will be explained hereinafter.

[0051] The powder case 100 of the invention also includes a fixing member 120, which has a receiving portion 122 in an upper portion thereof for seating the coupling portion 112 of the puff 110 therein. The fixing member 120 has a female coupling portion 124 formed in a lower inner periphery thereof, into which an upper portion of the storage member 130 can be detachably meshed. Although it is shown that the female coupling portion 124 is formed of female threads, the structure is not restricted to this example. The fixing member 120 is preferably of a cylindrical configuration but the fixing member 120 is not restricted thereto. A disk 126 is disposed between the receiving portion 122 and the female coupling portion 124. A through hole 126 a is formed in the center of the disk 126, through which the upward protrusion 132 can pass. As the coupling portion 112 of the puff 110 is seated in the receiving portion 122 of the fixing member 120, the through hole 126 a communicates with the hole 112 a.

[0052] The storage member 130 for storing foundation powder is coupled with a lower portion of the fixing member 120. The storage member 130 is opened at the bottom and has the opened upward protrusion 132 at the top. The storage member 130 also has a male coupling portion 134 in an upper outer periphery, which is detachably coupled with the female coupling portion 124 of the fixing member 120. The storage member 130 has a bellows portion 136 in its middle portion. A male coupling portion 138 is formed in a lower outer periphery of the storage member 30. The storage member 130 is made of a flexible material, so that the bellows portion 136 can be bent along the direction of an external force as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B.

[0053] A cylindrical gripping member 140 opened at the both ends is coupled with a lower portion of the storage member 130. The gripping member 140 has a female coupling portion 142 in the inner periphery, which functions to detachably mesh with the male coupling portion 138 of the storage member 138. The gripping member 140 also has a male coupling portion 144 in a lower outer periphery. The gripping member 140 is preferably made of a stiff material in order to reinforce the strength of the storage member 130.

[0054] A closing cap 150 is coupled with a lower portion of the gripping member 140. The closing cap 150 has a female coupling portion 152 in the inner periphery, which detachably couples with the male coupling portion 144 of the gripping member 140.

[0055] Alternatively, the gripping member 140 and the closing cap 150 can be integrally fabricated, functioning as a closing member to close a lower opened end of the storage member 130.

[0056] The powder case 100 of the invention also includes a covering cap 160 for covering the puff 110.

[0057] The following description will present a fabrication process of the powder case for internally containing foundation powder according to the second embodiment of the invention.

[0058] First, the coupling portion 112 of the puff 110 is seated in the receiving portion 122 of the fixing member 120. The male coupling portion 134 of the storage member 130 is coupled with the female coupling portion 124 of the fixing member 120.

[0059] The upward protrusion 132 of the storage member 130 is inserted up into the hole 112 a formed in the coupling portion 112 of the puff 110 through the through hole 126 a formed in the disk 126 of the fixing member 120. The female coupling portion 142 of the gripping member 140 is fastened with the male coupling portion 138 of the storage member 130. The gripping member 140 is provided at and moved along the outer periphery of the storage member 30, so that the upper end of the gripping member 140 can reach around the bellows portion 136 of the storage member 130 in order to reinforce the strength of the bellows member 136.

[0060] The assembled structure is so oriented that an opened end of the gripping member 130 faces upward, and then foundation powder is fed into the storage member 130 through the opened end of the gripping member 130. After feeding foundation powder up to a predetermined height level in the storage member 130, the female coupling portion 152 of the closing cap 150 is coupled with the male coupling portion 144 of the gripping member 140 to close the opened end of the gripping member 140.

[0061] The covering cap 16 is covered over the puff 110. Preferably, the covering cap 160 has a predetermined vertical length, so that the bottom thereof can touch the top of the closing cap 150 when the covering cap 160 is covered over the puff 110.

[0062] Hereinafter, the description will be presented about the application of the powder case assembled according to the above process.

[0063] A user separates the covering cap 160 from the powder case 100 to expose the puff 110 while holding the closing cap 150 with one hand. The user shakes the powder case 100 as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B while contacting the exposed puff 110 with skin such as facial skin, so that the bellows portion 136 can contract or expand. Such expansion/contraction of the bellows portion 136 causes some air to be sucked/exhausted through the upward protrusion 132 of the storage member 130. Then, the air is exhausted from the storage member 130 as indicated with an arrow (AIR), discharging foundation powder thereon out of the storage member 130, so that foundation powder can be uniformly distributed over the puff 110.

[0064] As a result, foundation powder is not lumped in any region of the puff 110, so that the user can be satisfied with the make-up.

[0065] After completion of make-up, the user returns the covering cap 160 over the puff 110.

[0066] When foundation powder is completely consumed from the storage member 130, the closing cap 150 is separated from the gripping member 140 and then foundation powder is refilled into a storage portion of the storage member 130. After foundation powder is completely refilled, the closing cap 150 is coupled with the gripping member 140 to close the opened end of the storage member 130.

[0067]FIG. 9 is a sectional view of an embodiment of a puff adopted in a powder case of the invention. Referring to FIG. 9, an alternative to the puff 40, 110 of the foregoing embodiments has channels 42 for guiding powder from the storage member 30, 130. The puff 40, 110 can further have a protective film 43 on the surface thereof. In such case, the channels 42 facilitate powder supply to the surface of the puff 40, 110. The protective film 43 can be reused after cleaning or replaced, if soiled or damaged as a result of repeated use, so that make-up can be cleanly performed.

[0068] In the meantime, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the puff can be substituted by a brush.

[0069] The present invention set forth above is not restricted to the foregoing embodiments of the invention but shall be made into various modifications and variations without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.

[0070] The present invention set forth above has the following advantages:

[0071] First, powder contained in the storage member can be efficiently dispensed through the puff due to the compressed air generated by contraction/expansion by the bellows portion, thereby ensuring convenient use of the powder case.

[0072] Second, since the bellows portion is contracted while the puff is contacted with the skin, powder is efficiently discharged by the compressed air. Unlike the conventional powder case by which the user taps the puff to the skin, this can greatly reduce scattering of powder, thereby preventing pollution of surroundings. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A powder case comprising: a storage member having a storage portion for containing powder and a bellows portion for enabling contraction/expansion of the storage portion; and a puff coupled to a first end of the storage member and for absorbing powder therefrom and discharging the same to the outside.
 2. The powder case as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a gripping member coupled to a second end of the storage member for guiding the bellows portion in a contraction/expansion direction of the bellows portion.
 3. The powder case as set forth in claim 2, wherein the second end of the storage member is opened, the powder case further comprising: an extension tube extended from the gripping member for expanding the storage portion; and a closing cap coupled with the extension tube for opening/closing the storage portion.
 4. The powder case as set forth in claim 1, wherein the storage member has a hole in its bottom for compensating for powder, the powder case further comprising a cap for opening/closing the hole.
 5. The powder case as set forth in claim 1, wherein the puff has a channel for guiding powder from the storage member and a protective film coupled over the surface of the puff.
 6. A powder case comprising: a puff; a fixing member having a receiving portion for seating the puff; and a storage member coupled with the fixing member, wherein the storage member includes: a storage portion for containing powder; and a bellows portion in a middle portion of the storage member capable of contracting/expanding by external force in order to supply powder to the puff.
 7. The powder case as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a covering member coupled with the storage member.
 8. The powder case as set forth in claim 7, wherein the covering member includes a gripping member for detachably coupling with a second end of the storage member and a cap for detachably coupling with the gripping member.
 9. The powder case as set forth in claim 6, wherein the storage member further includes an opened upward protrusion at a first end thereof for guiding foundation powder to the puff.
 10. The powder case as set forth in claim 6, further comprising a cap for covering the puff. 